Be not afraid to say ‘Merry Christmas’

Published: Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 1:15 a.m. CDT

By Harold Hunt Dixon

Merry Christmas – or maybe I’m not allowed to say that.

It saddens my heart when I hear different branches of our American government declare it’s “improper” to say “Christmas” in the open public, and businesses that instruct their employees they must not say “Merry Christmas” but to wish everyone “happy holidays.”

Well, “holiday” is a combination of the words holy and day. New Year’s Day isn’t a holy day, so the only holiday at this time is Christmas. Saying “happy holiday” sounds stupid.

Many cities have banned the nativity scene on the courthouse lawn or town square. Many churches don’t even have a nativity scene anymore.

America was born because of Christianity. The English didn’t like the way the church was going in England, so they came to America for freedom of worship. We still have freedom to worship, but we’re being told more and more not to let other people see what and how we worship.

I’m not discrediting the validity of freedom of other religions to display their religious beliefs, or to wish each other a “Happy Hanukkah.” We need to quit allowing ourselves to be hushed up by government agencies with our freedom of speech. I understand we aren’t allowed to speak traitorous or slanderous comments, but to wish joy and happiness to another person seems only natural.

If a Jewish person were to wish me a “Happy Hanukkah,” I would certainly not be insulted; likewise, I believe most Muslims wouldn’t be insulted if I were to wish them a Merry Christmas.

I encourage people to wish each other a Merry Christmas – shout it out down the street; in the middle of Walmart, the courthouse, the post office; at school, to the mailman, the meterman, the UPS man.